Olympic Newsdesk - IOC Dismisses Dow Concerns; Sochi World Plans Rejected

IOC Dismisses Dow Sponsorship Concerns

The IOC tells Around the Rings that Dow Chemical’s worldwide sponsorship of the Games is in line with the values of the Olympic Movement.

The reassurance comes amid fresh concerns voiced by some British MPs as well as Amnesty International over the corporation’s links to the 1984 toxic gas disaster in Bhopal, India.

"Dow has supported the Olympic Movement for over thirty years, and as a Worldwide Olympic Partner is providing financial support to Organizing Committees and National Olympic Committees around the world and bringing industry-leading expertise and innovation to the Games," says a Friday statement from Lausanne.

"The IOC only enters into partnerships with organizations that it believes work in accordance with the values of the Olympic Movement. Dow is a global leader in its field of business and is committed to good corporate citizenship and sustainability."

The IOC’s reaction echoes that of London organizers, who insisted Thursday to ATR that they have no issue with the partnership.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe met Wednesday with British MPs Keith Vaz and Tessa Jowell, the former Olympics minister, to explain why London had partnered with Dow to fund the Olympic Stadium fabric wrap – the last major 2012 sponsorship – and to alleviate their concerns.

Around a dozen MPs signed a motion tabled by Vaz in October expressing concerns about Dow's 2012 Olympics partnership. The MPs are set to raise their concerns with Dow officials in an upcoming meeting.

Britain's culture and Olympics secretary Jeremy Hunt said Thursday that he acknowledged the concerns of MPs but informed the British Parliament that Dow was also one of the IOC's worldwide partners.

Amnesty International also weighed in with its objections to the Olympic sponsorship last week, questioning why LOCOG had struck the deal when its subsidiary, Union Carbide, still has not cleaned up after the gas leak.

Dow told ATR last month that the U.S.-based chemical giant was not responsible for the disaster and did not own or operate the plant at the time of the incident.

In 1984, a pesticide plant owned by Union Carbide spewed toxic gas into the city of Bhopal. According to theIndian government, around 3,000 people were killed in the following days and 15,000 died subsequently. Dow said it had bought Union Carbide in 2001, long after the issue was resolved.

Sochi World Plans Formally Rejected

Sochi 2014 must head back to the drawing table following Thursday’s rejection of Russia’s plans to build a party venue in central London ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Westminster City Council confirms to Around the Rings that its planning committee formally declined the application for a temporary events facility known as Sochi World.

"Our decision took on board concerns from partners at the Greater London Authority, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police about safety relating to theimpact of additional visitors and vehicles on the local infrastructure, leading to significant overcrowding and congestion," said councilor Alistair Moss.

"There are also additional concerns about visual impact, particularly on the Grade I Listed Marble Arch monument and the long term effect on the character of the open space."

Unveiled by Olympic organizers in April, the proposal was for a development at Marble Arch to promote the Winter Games from May through October. Sochi World was to have staged ice-shows and cultural events and was expected to attract 8,150 visitors per day.

Sochi 2014 CEO Dmitry Chernyshenko told ATR last week he’s not stressing about the roadblock and is sure an answer will be found, preferably one involving the proposedvenue.

"I do believe the solution will be positive and Sochi Center in some way will be presented in the heart of London at Marble Arch," he said.

Moss suggested Thursday his colleagues are likewise confident about working out the kinks but not in a way that involves the iconic landmark.

"Westminster Council is working with Sochi House to find a suitable alternative space for this event as part of the London Olympics and Paralympics," he said "which we hope will be the best Games yet."

Thorpe’s Long Journey to London 2012

Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe took seventh place on Friday in his first competition in five years.

After winning five Olympic gold medals at the Sydney and Athens Games, Thorpe retired from the sport in 2006. The FINA World Cup in Singapore marked his return to swimming and the beginning of his journey to the London Olympics.

The 11-time world champion finished seventh on Friday in the 100-meter individual medley, more than three seconds behind the winner Chad Le Clos of South Africa.

"I’m happy with the swim, really pleased with the first 50m in particular. The butterfly was great, the backstroke was great and I was really happy with the underwater work," he said.

"The second 50 can be improved but it was good to make a jump up from the morning time and in my next competition I now have something to go off."

Despite his disappointing finish, Thorpe said he was happy that he was done with his first race.

"I’m really happy to get the first one out of the way. Now I’m able to focus on improving my swimming, rather than on my first race back," he said.

He will compete in two more meets this month in Beijing and Tokyo.

Written by Matthew Grayson and Ann Cantrell

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